Chapter 39

CHAPTER 39

RYLEE

I leaned back against the couch, still smiling at the picture on my phone. I had just shown Asher, Ward, Jameson, and the girls the photos from my trip. I regaled them with stories of the wild nights and the beautiful places we visited. I especially highlighted how Simon came to my rescue with a charming knight-in-shining-armor story. Everyone seemed genuinely intrigued, though I could tell there were varying levels of skepticism. They weren't quite ready to accept he was the good man I believed him to be.

But they didn't know him.

They didn't see him smile or laugh or the little things like a casual touch when we were walking or his gentleness. They were blind to the side of Simon that had slowly unfolded before me during our time together. I couldn't blame them. I had been just as skeptical in the beginning. I realized how much Simon had come to mean to me in such a short time.

Karen, as always, was the Debby Downer. Always logical. She never did anything on a whim. She looked at me with a furrowed brow, her arms crossed. "Travel flings sweep people off their feet all the time, but it's not real life," she said, her voice filled with concern. "Just don't get caught up in the romanticization of it all."

"That's a big word," Jenny teased from her spot on the couch, waving her glass. "Sounds like you need another drink, Karen."

But Karen ignored Jenny's comment, her gaze fixed on me. "Rylee, I just don't want to see you get hurt. He's a huge risk."

I appreciated her concern, but I knew she couldn't see what was between Simon and me. It was more than just a vacation fling. It felt real and profound. I smiled at Karen, grateful for her friendship but firm in my own feelings.

"I hear you, Karen. And I promise to be careful," I reassured her. "But Simon is different. He's shown me sides of himself that go beyond a simple travel romance. I don't expect you to understand that because you've never actually talked to him or been around him. You're going off of what you've heard."

"Some of what I've heard came directly from you," she retorted.

"True." I nodded. "I think I judged him too quickly. It was a misunderstanding. It wasn't meant to offend me. He's just not tactful or always all that aware of other people."

I realized it didn't sound all that great, but I knew it was fine. I knew he was a good man.

Karen nodded slowly, still not entirely convinced but respecting my decision and not campaigning for me to dump him.

Jenny waved off Karen's concerns. "Come on, Karen! Live a little! Rylee deserves some excitement in her life."

"I'm not saying I want to marry him," I said. "I'm saying I like him, and we are seeing where things go. We have a lot of fun together. Trust me, do you think I would waste my time with just any asshole?"

"She's right." Jenny nodded. "When have we ever known Rylee to do anything she doesn't want to do?"

I noticed Lauren and Jameson with their heads together, whispering about something. That wasn't totally out of the ordinary.

"What's going on with you two?" Karen asked. "You two have been acting weird all night."

"Actually, we have some news," Lauren said. "We've been waiting to tell everyone until Rylee got home."

"Spill it!" Jenny said, leaning forward eagerly.

Jameson grinned. "We've set a date for our wedding."

"No way!" I exclaimed. "That's amazing!"

"When?!" Karen shouted.

"It's going to be at the end of December," Lauren continued, her eyes shining with excitement.

The room erupted in cheers and congratulations. I raised my glass for a toast. "To Lauren and Jameson! Here's to a beautiful wedding and a lifetime of happiness!"

Karen and I shared a look. It was a look that said another one bites the dust. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of yet another friend tying the knot.

"Do you have colors?" Jenny asked.

"A venue?" I added my own question.

"How ugly will the dresses be?" Mary Ellen asked. "And please tell me you are not going to make us run drills like Jenny."

"Actually, I haven't really decided anything," Lauren answered. "I'm hoping you guys will help guide me."

"Don't worry, we'll help you every step of the way," Jenny said. "We can start looking at venues and color schemes tomorrow if you want. I have all of my research and brochures."

"That would be amazing, thank you," Lauren said gratefully.

"I'll create a spreadsheet to keep track of everything—budget, guest list, timelines," Karen said. "We'll make sure this wedding is perfect."

Jameson squeezed Lauren's hand, his eyes filled with adoration. "I can't wait to marry you."

I was a little jealous. They loved each other so much. Their relationship didn't start off great but look at them now. Mary Ellen and Archer had their own issues, but they pulled it off as well. Maybe there was a chance Simon and I would have some version of a happy ever after. I wasn't sure if he was the married with children type and that was okay. I didn't need to jump into a wedding dress because my friends were. I was actually looking forward to exploring this thing with Simon. Maybe we worked, maybe we didn't.

"Are you okay?" Karen asked me.

I blinked. "What?"

"You've been staring at that wall a while."

I sighed. "I'm exhausted. Traveling all day has left me drained."

"We should go," Lauren said. "We do have a lot to talk about."

Jameson grinned. "Yeah, we do."

I stood up from the couch, stretching my arms above my head. I was tired but not nearly as tired as I would have been if I had to fly commercial. It was hard to complain about a long flight when I stretched out on a couch with a hot guy rubbing my feet while I watched a movie. It wasn't exactly a burden.

Karen and I said our goodbyes to the couples and closed the door behind them. I turned to look at the living room with glasses and takeout boxes. It was a mess, but I couldn't bear to leave it for the morning, and I knew if I left it, Karen would end up doing it all on her own. I wasn't about to let that happen.

Karen and I started cleaning up together. The kitchen was a disaster zone of empty bottles, spilled drinks, and half-eaten appetizers. As we worked, I could see the fatigue in Karen's eyes too, though she was trying to mask it.

"I'm sorry I was so negative tonight," Karen said, breaking the silence. "I really do want Simon to be the real deal for you. It's just that guys like him give me pause. You know how I am."

"I understand," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I really do. I'm sure I'd feel the same way if our roles were reversed. It's hard to let your guard down, especially with someone who seems so different from what you're used to. And when I first met him, I felt the same way you do. I judged him immediately without even saying two words to him."

"Yeah," Karen said, nodding. "It's just easy to be skeptical. Especially with someone like Simon."

We worked in silence for a moment, the clinking of dishes and the hum of the dishwasher filling the space. I was mentally exhausted, but I knew I needed to keep going until everything was sorted.

"Have you thought about what's next?" Karen asked, breaking the silence again.

"Not really," I said, shrugging. "I'm just trying to enjoy the moment. With Lauren and Jameson getting married, and Mary Ellen and Archer next, it's hard not to think about what comes after."

"And where will we be?" Karen sighed, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy.

"Yes."

"You feel like life is leaving us behind?"

I laughed. "Yes, pretty much. I think that's why I needed the trip to Europe. I just needed to get out there and experience life."

"I get it." She nodded.

I decided to mix us each a bedtime cocktail, sans alcohol. I grabbed the ingredients and started preparing. "I can't help but think about our futures. Lauren, Jenny, and Mary Ellen seem to have their futures pretty well plotted out. Maybe you'll be in Kentucky with a handsome cowboy and acres of property, and I'll be here slinging drinks."

Karen balked, her face scrunching up in distaste. "No thank you. I like city boys. You know, well-groomed, smelling like sandalwood and shampoo, not sweat, horse, and cow shit."

I laughed. "Okay, forget Kentucky. Here, it is. Only a city boy for you."

"And if you fall in love with Simon?" Karen asked, her voice taking on a softer, more vulnerable tone. She looked as lonely as I had felt these last few months.

I paused, considering my response carefully. I poured the last of the mocktails into our glasses and handed one to Karen. I took a sip of mine, savoring the sweet, comforting flavor. Then I set it down and pulled Karen into a hug.

"I don't know," I said quietly. "It's too soon to say. But I do know that right now, he's important to me. And I'm willing to see where it goes. Maybe that's all we can do—take things one step at a time and see what happens."

Karen hugged me back. We shared a quiet moment of understanding. No words were needed. We both knew exactly what the other was feeling. We were at a crossroad, facing the uncertainty of our futures, but we were in it together. Things were changing. Our lives would never be the same, which was good, but it was also sad. Our lives were pretty good before.

As we pulled apart, Karen wiped a stray tear from her cheek and gave me a small, grateful smile. "Thanks for being such a good friend, Rylee. I really needed this."

"Anytime," I said, returning her smile. "You're my best friend, Karen. We'll get through this together."

We finished cleaning up, chatting about lighter topics to lift our spirits. By the time we were done, the kitchen was spotless, and the house was quiet. Karen and I said goodnight and went to bed.

As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the future. There were still so many unknowns, so many questions about what lay ahead. But I knew one thing for sure—I wasn't alone. I had friends who cared about me, a supportive network, and the possibility of something new and exciting with Simon.